Coral Gables, FL Road Trips

The University of Miami is well known for its top academic programs in business, marine science, medicine, music and other fields. It is also well-known for its premiere athletic programs. With five national championships since the early 1980s, the University of Miami football team has won more national championships than any other Division I football program. Its baseball team also is a national powerhouse and has won the College World Series numerous times. This planned section of town is an oasis of quiet stately homes, shopping and Miami restaurants in the heart of Miami. If you're tired of South Beach and the downtown scene and are looking for some classy fun, take a trip to the Gables. The city is home to many historic landmarks as well as 22 parks, 33 public tennis courts, two public golf courses, and other first-class recreation amenities. Among them: the largest tropical botanical garden in the continental United States, a spring-fed grotto swimming pool made of native coral rock with underwater caves, tree-lined bike paths and walking trails, and more. In the past three decades, the city has experienced healthy growth, which has bolstered the economic base. Today, Coral Gables is home to 175 multinationals, 26 consulates and trade offices and more than 30 fine art galleries. It is also known as the Fine Dining Capital of South Florida and has the highest concentration of live theater in Miami-Dade County.

1 Coral Gables Merrick House, 907 Coral Wy. Sa-Su 1PM/2PM/3PM (guided tours). Former home of George Merrick, founder of Coral Gables, dating from 1907. Accessible by guided tour only. $5/adult, $3/senior/military, $3/student, $1/child (cash. (updated Nov 2023) 2 The Barnacle Historic State Park, 3485 Main Highway, Miami, ☏ +1-305 442-6866. Su-W 9AM-5PM. A preserved house built in 1891. $2 per person. (updated Dec 2021) Coral Gables Congregational Church, 3010 De Soto Blvd, ☏ +1 305 448-7421. Historic church built by George Merrick, founder of Coral Gables, in the Spanish Renaissance style. 3 Matheson Hammock Park, 9610 Old Cutler Rd, ☏ +1 305 665-5475. Open daily from 6am to sunset. Man-made atoll with scenic walks, boating and picnic area. 4 Venetian Pool, 2701 DeSoto Blvd, ☏ +1 305 460-5306. 11AM-5PM every day, but call to verify hours. Public pool in a Venetian style, with natural grottoes and a sunbathing area. In the 1920s Denman Dink transformed this limestone quarry into a pool with a waterfall, an area for kids and an area for adults. The water in this pool comes from a spring and is drained daily. In addition to the swimming facilities there is a snack bar (you cannot bring outside food into the Venetian Pool) and lockers. Swimming lessons are also offered here. The Venetian Pool is best known for having Esther Williams and Johnny Weissmuller (the silver screen’s first Tarzan) swim here. $6 people 13 years and older, $3 children under 13 $ (November to March); $9 people 13 years and older, $5 under 13 (April to October).

1 Miami Hurricanes. The University of Miami's sports teams are a major local attraction. Most of the venues are on campus, most notably the Watsco Center (basketball) and Alex Rodriguez Stadium (baseball). However, the most prominent Hurricanes team, the football team, plays its home games in Miami Gardens at the home stadium of the NFL's Miami Dolphins.

1 Cafe Abbraci, 318 Aragon Ave, ☏ +1 305 441-0700. (updated Aug 2021) Talavera, 2299 Ponce de Leon Blvd. M–F 11:30AM–11PM, Sa 11AM–11:30PM, Sun 11AM–11PM. Mexican. Its cuisine is refined (think chicharones with the guacamole) with a full bar. The margaritas are highly touted.

1 The Bar, 172 Giralda Ave (2 Blocks from the Hyatt and Westin Omni), ☏ +1 305 442-2730. 11:30AM–2AM daily. The Bar's kitchen is open late and the food has been voted "Best Bar Food in Miami." Another accolade comes from Maxim Magazine 2002 claimed The Bar was the "Best Bar in America.". Has drink specials every night of the week.

1 Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Avenue, ☏ + 1 305-445-1926. Four star hotel and South Florida's only National Historic Landmark resort. 2 Hyatt Regency Coral Gables, 50 Alhambra Plaza, ☏ +1 305 441-1234. Mediterranean-style hotel. 3 Terrace Inn, 1430 South Dixie Highway. Good location for the university campus.

As part of the Miami urban area, there are many routes that can be taken to access Coral Gables. Miami International Airport is not far north of Coral Gables. FL-953 (42nd Ave) goes south from the airport to Coral Gables. FL-976 enters the city from the west. US-1, or the Dixie Highway passes through Coral Gables coming out of Miami. If going via mass transportation, the University stop (for University of Miami) is the station in Coral Gables.

Miami-Dade Transit runs buses around Coral Gables and to nearby MetroRail stations. The Coral Gables Trolley is a free circulator through the city. It runs primarily north and south along Ponce de Leon Boulevard with stops at the central retail district, Miracle Mile. It also connects to the Douglas Road MetroRail station and local buses.